Heath Druzin

I can tell you that firsthand. But Moscow is one of these kind of liberal strongholds, you know, as you'll find in a lot of college towns. So it's a little weird that it's become this kind of center for this unyielding, pretty far-right Christian nationalist church called Christchurch. The pastor of Christchurch is Doug Wilson. He leads a congregation of 800 to 900 people.

He's a Navy veteran in his early 70s and a prolific author of Christian-themed books. He spent most of his adult life evangelizing and developing a conservative Christian education model. And he's kind of built this network from Moscow where he's had a lot of influence.

He's a Navy veteran in his early 70s and a prolific author of Christian-themed books. He spent most of his adult life evangelizing and developing a conservative Christian education model. And he's kind of built this network from Moscow where he's had a lot of influence.

He's a Navy veteran in his early 70s and a prolific author of Christian-themed books. He spent most of his adult life evangelizing and developing a conservative Christian education model. And he's kind of built this network from Moscow where he's had a lot of influence.

He and his church members have been able to buy up some key real estate, also working on a housing development on the edge of town. So a lot of their influence is through money and real estate right now. And that's been alarming a lot of people in town because the stated goal of Christchurch, locally at least, is to make Moscow a Christian town.

He and his church members have been able to buy up some key real estate, also working on a housing development on the edge of town. So a lot of their influence is through money and real estate right now. And that's been alarming a lot of people in town because the stated goal of Christchurch, locally at least, is to make Moscow a Christian town.

He and his church members have been able to buy up some key real estate, also working on a housing development on the edge of town. So a lot of their influence is through money and real estate right now. And that's been alarming a lot of people in town because the stated goal of Christchurch, locally at least, is to make Moscow a Christian town.

Doug Wilson and his associates at Christchurch, they want a kind of local theocracy where the political power is held only by people who identify as Christian. Now, they haven't had much luck at the ballot box because it's a liberal town. But what's been fascinating and what kind of drew me to the story is that the fight over the town is, you know, it's really dramatic and interesting.

Doug Wilson and his associates at Christchurch, they want a kind of local theocracy where the political power is held only by people who identify as Christian. Now, they haven't had much luck at the ballot box because it's a liberal town. But what's been fascinating and what kind of drew me to the story is that the fight over the town is, you know, it's really dramatic and interesting.

Doug Wilson and his associates at Christchurch, they want a kind of local theocracy where the political power is held only by people who identify as Christian. Now, they haven't had much luck at the ballot box because it's a liberal town. But what's been fascinating and what kind of drew me to the story is that the fight over the town is, you know, it's really dramatic and interesting.

But you could argue that he actually has more influence nationally. Because Doug Wilson, he's built up, well, what my co-reporter James Dawson on the podcast termed a, quote, Christian industrial complex. He's got this church in Moscow, but he also has churches across the country and across the world.

But you could argue that he actually has more influence nationally. Because Doug Wilson, he's built up, well, what my co-reporter James Dawson on the podcast termed a, quote, Christian industrial complex. He's got this church in Moscow, but he also has churches across the country and across the world.

But you could argue that he actually has more influence nationally. Because Doug Wilson, he's built up, well, what my co-reporter James Dawson on the podcast termed a, quote, Christian industrial complex. He's got this church in Moscow, but he also has churches across the country and across the world.

More importantly, he's built up a Christian educational empire where he's got nearly 500 schools across the country, coast to coast, in nearly every state in the country. And as he told me, he sees his educational enterprises as munitions factories. He likes to use war terminology. So, you know, he sees his students as basically foot soldiers in the culture wars that he wants to win.

More importantly, he's built up a Christian educational empire where he's got nearly 500 schools across the country, coast to coast, in nearly every state in the country. And as he told me, he sees his educational enterprises as munitions factories. He likes to use war terminology. So, you know, he sees his students as basically foot soldiers in the culture wars that he wants to win.

More importantly, he's built up a Christian educational empire where he's got nearly 500 schools across the country, coast to coast, in nearly every state in the country. And as he told me, he sees his educational enterprises as munitions factories. He likes to use war terminology. So, you know, he sees his students as basically foot soldiers in the culture wars that he wants to win.

And the school system has been really effective, as has his media empire. He's got popular streaming shows. He's got a publishing house called Canon Press that churns out dozens of titles. He himself has written dozens of books, and they've been pretty influential in these circles. Secularism is resting on America like a dense fog.

And the school system has been really effective, as has his media empire. He's got popular streaming shows. He's got a publishing house called Canon Press that churns out dozens of titles. He himself has written dozens of books, and they've been pretty influential in these circles. Secularism is resting on America like a dense fog.

And the school system has been really effective, as has his media empire. He's got popular streaming shows. He's got a publishing house called Canon Press that churns out dozens of titles. He himself has written dozens of books, and they've been pretty influential in these circles. Secularism is resting on America like a dense fog.

That's Doug Wilson speaking to me in Moscow, Idaho, for the podcast in 2023.